The purpose of this study is to determine whether the availability of home self-testing for HIV will increase HIV testing frequency among men who have sex with men without negatively impacting their risk for HIV acquisition.

Participants in this arm will be given access to home HIV self-testing kits with the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test for use with oral fluids. They will be trained to use this device to test themselves for HIV and be able to request up to one self-testing kit per month throughout follow-up.

The device is the home HIV self-testing kit that includes the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test for use on oral fluids. The kit itself is not the focus of this trial. As described in the Behavioral Intervention section, the intervention is having access to home self-testing for HIV.

No Intervention: Standard Testing

Detailed Description:

HIV counseling and testing remains one of the most effective HIV prevention interventions because many individuals newly diagnosed with HIV infection will alter their behaviors to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to others. In the U.S., men who have sex with men (MSM) represent the group with the greatest risk for HIV acquisition despite a high penetrance of testing, in part because their frequent exposures and infrequent testing can result in long intervals between HIV acquisition and diagnosis. Efforts to prevent HIV transmission among MSM must therefore increase the frequency of HIV testing and thereby decrease the time interval that infected individuals are unaware of their status and their potential for transmission. Home self-testing for HIV may increase the frequency of HIV testing, but there are concerns that it may also have negative consequences, including decreased access to risk reduction counseling.

We will randomize 246 MSM at high risk of HIV acquisition either to have access to home self-testing for HIV using the OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test or to standard, clinic-based HIV testing for 15 months to determine the effects of home self-testing availability on HIV testing frequency and markers of risk for HIV acquisition and to assess the acceptability and ease of use of home self-testing. After screening to determine eligibility, study visits will occur at baseline and at 15 months. Both visits will include HIV/STD screening and surveys regarding HIV testing and risk behaviors. During follow-up, participants will be asked to complete brief online surveys after testing for HIV.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Male

Age ≥18

Has sex with men

HIV-negative

Meets PHSKC HIV/STD Program definition of "high risk"

Plans to live in Seattle for the next 15 months

Exclusion Criteria:

Unable to safely and confidentially receive or store a home testing kit

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01161446

Locations

United States, Washington

Public Health - Seattle & King County STD Clinic, located at Harborview Medical Center